Imran warns of street protests

PTI chief says if SC decision is not implemented then it is the responsibility of the people to get it implemented

LAHORE:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Tuesday warned of a public movement for the protection of the Constitution if the government did not implement the Supreme Court’s decision of holding elections of the Punjab Assembly on May 14.

In an interview, the former prime minister stressed that the Supreme Court’s responsibility was to make decisions as per the Constitution, without any the consideration as to whether its decisions would be implemented or not.

“If the government does not implement the Supreme Court’s decision of holding elections as per the Constitution, I will take to the streets, mobilise the nation and lead the movement for the protection of the Constitution,” Imran said in the interview.

“Its [the apex court] responsibility is to make decisions as per the Constitution. If the decision is not implemented then it is the responsibility of the people of Pakistan to stand with the Supreme Court and get its decision implemented,” he added.

Imran reiterated that he would “not accept anyone’s slavery” and fight till his last breath for the supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law in the country. He warned that if the Constitution was violated, the country would finish and nothing would be left behind.

Imran was referring to a Supreme Court decision earlier this month that election for the Punjab Assembly on May 14. The government however, insists that elections should be held in October – at the end of the tenures of the remaining assemblies.

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In the interview, the PTI chairman was sceptical about the government’s intentions about the general elections even in October. He said that the ruling coalition insisted on holding the elections in October but it was not serious about the elections as per the Constitution.

“In October, if they see Imran Khan is still alive and is in a position to win the elections, they would again try to postpone the elections without considering its repercussions,” the PTI chairman told the interviewer.

Imran pointed out the ongoing political crises in the country and its consequences. He said that 900,000 professionals had already left the country owing to hopelessness, uncertainty and chaos in the country.

Imran emphasised that everywhere in the world, the constitution was supreme. In the United Kingdom, he added, parliament was supreme because it did not have a written constitution. “The same is true for Pakistan, as parliament cannot go against the Constitution even though it has a two-thirds majority,” he said.

Responding to question, he said that he dissolved the Punjab and the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) assemblies in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and after consulting the top legal minds of the country.

“I question all the 15 judges of the Supreme Court why elections are not being held. The Constitution and the rule of law are being compromised,” he said, adding that this was happening just to keep Imran Khan out of the government.

He also questioned the legality of the caretaker governments in Punjab and K-P which were installed after the dissolution of the two provincial assemblies in January this year. He also said that police and other institutions were being used against opponents.

The PTI chairman stressed the need for initiating reforms and implementing the rule of law in the country. If you continued to maintain the status quo, democracy could not flourish in Pakistan.

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He warned that a military takeover or martial law in the country would be the last nail in its coffin. “Any such move will weaken the armed forces. Pakistan needs a strong army as it has a notorious neighbour always looking for an opportunity to cause harm,” he said.

“The country needs a strong government with the public mandate to take difficult decisions. There is a dire need to give confidence to the people of Pakistan about the rule of law,” he said.

When asked about his plans if he returned to the power again, Imran said: “If I got a chance to come into power again, I will do necessary reforms to attract overseas Pakistanis to invest in the country. I will give them confidence that their investment is safe in Pakistan.”